The Filling of the Holy Spirit
During Paul’s time of writing to the Ephesians, Ephesus was a huge Roman city with many different religious practices. One of the main gods that was worshipped was Bacchus, the god of wine and “revelry”. Only after getting drunk and opening up your body would you know the will of Bacchus. This is the context of Paul’s letter and instruction to the Ephesians when he writes:
Eph 5:18-21 “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing andmaking melody to the Lord with all your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
5 participles that address “filled”:
1. Address one another with psalms, hymns
2. Sing
3. Make melody
4. Give thanks always to God for everything
5. Submit to one another out of reverence
Submit means “to order under” – consider others better than yourself.
1. We give reverence to Christ – He modeled submission for us
2. We need to see the value and dignity of the other person.
Remember:
1. God has given us the Holy Spirit
2. He commands us to be filled
3. He wants us to be filled (Luke 11:3)
How do you do this practically?
1. Surrender and yield to Him every single day. Just like you surrendered your life to Jesus for salvation, surrender your life to the Spirit.
2. We can be filled by the Spirit through the Word of Christ (Col 3:15)
3. Confession of sin – DAILY. (1 John 1:9)
We live in a dry world, so it’s our job to water it (the Spirit) and bring it life!
To discuss today
1. What do you fill your life with? What do you pursue with everything? (money, prestige, home, reputation, etc…)
2. Do you see the value and dignity of those around you? How does this show in how you treat them?
3. Are you resisting the Holy Spirit who has told you to do something? Why? What are the consequences?
Prayer
Father, thank you for sending your Spirit to fill us. I want to live an abundant life because I make much of Jesus. I understand that in order to do that, I need to be filled with Your Spirit. Please forgive me where I have grieved You, and fill me with Your Spirit today. Help me see others the way You see them, and fill me with passion for You and for my brothers and sisters in Christ.
